........Who, among you, has read the warning labels on each brand of glue, and paint thinner you use ?

The danger we all face using these materials is chemical toxicity ------- or saturation, medical term for poisoning of the body.

.....Now I do not want to scare you off from building models. As hobbies go, this is one of the safest. But too many model builders ignore the potential hazards of materials they use to make every model. Most of these substances demand more respect than they receive.

Terms......... What makes a substance toxic ? Obviously, its composition is the prime factor. But the degree and duration of the exposure to the material works into the equation, too.

CARCINOGEN: no doubt, you've heard this one on the news. It is a substance that causes cancer. There are no dosage levels for carcinogens. A single molecule may cause cancer, especially if it is a strong carcinogen. On the other hand, massive exposure may not harm you. Why... ? It depends on the carcinogen involved, your vulnerability, and a host of other factors. Any carcinogen may cause cancer, but it is difficult to say who, how, and when. We all know that sunlight is necessary for good health, yet it is a known carcinogen. Too much and you can get skin cancer

SUSPECTED CARCINOGEN: is a material thought to cause cancer.

POSSIBLE CARCINOGEN: describes a material that is believed to be carcinogenic, and has documented evidence to support the claim.

HIGHLY TOXIC: should be used with great care, as they may easily cause death or permanent injury at relatively low dosage levels.

MODERATELY TOXIC: usually do not cause permanent injury or death. Although they may cause irreversible changes to exposed tissues, and could cause severe discomfort.

NARCOTIC: describes the effect of a material on the body. These materials are not narcotics or drugs in the usual sense. There effects can include symptoms resembling deep sleep, and possible depression of vital functions.

ALLERGEN: is a substance which triggers an allergic response.

TERATOGEN: causes birth defects. The teratogenicproperties of many chemicals are not well known. Pregnant women should consult a physician about exposure to any chemical.

SENSITIZER: makes you more sensitive to itself and to other chemicals.

All the information is for "acute" exposure unless other exposure conditions are given. Acute exposure means.......... of short duration........... seconds, minutes, or hours for skin absorption or inhalation, or a single ingested dose.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

................................................................................Chemistry of common modeling materials

Accelerators for Super Glues............................................. ...Triethanolamine, and other organic amines.

At this time I would like to clear the air about cyanoacrylate glues............ better known as super glues. They are not typical of compounds containing the root word "cyan", which means a cyanide compound. Although these glues and there fumes can be irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat, they do not contain cyanide, nor do they decompose into poisonous cyanide compounds when they set or are heated. Cyanoacrylates were first developed for surgical applications ---- which explains why they are so good at bonding skin!

Ethyl alochol (ethanol) ………………………………............“Good ‘ol Hooch” , (drinking alcohol), unless denatured, in which case see methyl alochol. You can also inhale it in sufficient amounts to become intoxicated without your knowledge, or consent. Prolonged use may cause irreversible brain damage, memory loss, ((short term), and long term), prolonged use may also cause pickeling of the liver. In large quanities it may be fatal, (cause death). Woman that are pregnant should not drink alcohol. Babbies have been born that are alcholics at the time of birth. Alcohol may also cause birth defects.

Isopropyl alochol ………………………………....................Stronger narcotic than methyl alochol. Can cause eye damage by contact. Single lethal dose is 250ml, however, as little as 10ml taken internally have caused serious illness. Absorbed by skin.

Methyl alochol (methanol) ………………………………........Not considered highly toxic, but the damage that it causes is severe. A cumulative poison, ((like arsenic), and lead). Can be absorbed by inhalation, and shin contact, but is more toxic if inhaled. Possible carcinogen.

Vinyl acetate ……………………………….............................Fumes from burning or heating are toxic.

Vinyl butyrate ………………………………............................Fumes from burning or heating are toxic.

Vinyl chloride (PVC) ………………………………....................Vinyl chloride liquid is highly toxic if inhaled or absorbed by the skin, Carcinogen. Polymer (PVC) is less dangerous unless heated to decompsition. PVC is an allergen.

Water based paint, and thinners ………………………………....Thought to be safe. Isopropyl alochol, and other alochols. This is why most water based paint can not be thined with tap water. Best results are achived with Isopropyl alochol, or the manufactures brand of thiner. The same holes true for Acrylic paint, and thinners.

.....By know means are these all of the cemical componds found in modeling produts, but the most common. Also of interest, by the state laws, other than California, if a product contains a small amount of any of the above listed compounds, they do not have to list them on there warning labels………….. Errrrrrrrrr……

......Safety and Prevention

Nitrite rubber gloves………………………………......................Can help protect you from hazardous chemicals.

Latex gloves, or surgens gloves……………………………….......Latex gloves are not satisfactory when handeling chemicals, and there componds. Many aboved listed chemicals can pass through the latex to your skin. Since absorption through the skin is just as dangerous as inhalation, you should protect your hands from solvent chemicals.

If you get paint on your skin, do not use paint thinner to remove the paint. Use a cloth rag to remove the majority of the paint. Wash the affected area with hot soapy water, and a lot of elbow grease. Over a period of time the remaning paint will wear off.

Ventilation………………………………........................... ........Adequate ventilation is not an open window, or a window and a door, or a fan at the other side of the room. As a general rule….. If you, or another person can smell the paint or solvent being used……… the area is contaminated. Also many chemicals, and there compounds are oderless. Do not trust a manufactor because they say that a product is none toxic. They have been known to give untruthful informational about there products. Also see the paragraph under Xylene conserning state laws and chemical componds.

Respirators………………………………........................... .......A two stage respirator is best. Most two stage respirators not only protect you from paint, paint thinners, and solvent, but they also protect you from organic vapors.

.....So now we have adequate ventilation, our chemical prof rubber gloves, eye protection, and our respirator……… We are safe ……… WRONG ……. What about your wife, children, and pets that are in the house with you …. ?

.....The best tried and tested system is a paint both. With a good fan to pull the fumes out a length of tub, and despout the vapors out the window. Or you can us a paint both, and fan sitting in the open window.

.....Because you have a paint both does not mean you can forget about the gloves, eye protection, respirator, and adequate ventilation when mixing paint, using glues, and solvents.